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Contact Information
strongarmfarm@gmail.com2011 News:
June: it all starts.
July: we will begin vending at the Healdsburg Farmer’s Market
August: we will begin vending at the Occidental Farmer’s Market
September: we hope to begin vending at the Sebastopol Farmer’s Market
Products
Seasonal is the big word- when it’s ripe we bring it to market. Pretty simple. Seeds are either direct sown in the field or started in the greenhouse and then transplanted out. We plant the majority of crops in the late spring, when we are able to prepare the soil. This equates to peak harvest abundance August – October.
We pick a unique selection of items for each market. Farmer’s market harvest days are carefully planned with quantities and varieties, emphasizing items that have become popular at each locale.
Zulu Prince Daisy
The flowers we grow are also grown with organic standards. We don’t want your needling noses, eager for delicious scents to breath in any toxic fumes. Often sold in mixed bouquets, you will also find single-type bunches. I like to bunch sole-varieties of rudbeckia (black eyed susan) or bright zinnias – allowing each species’ color variation to catch the eye. A favorite at the farm is the Zulu Prince Daisy. It has grey, fuzzy foliage and grows quickly into a long-season blooming annual. You can regularly find native bee species resting/sleeping overnight in the flower centers, protected by petals that fold up at dusk. Packaged seeds are sold, so others can grow the same in their gardens
These plants are a personal favorite of Heidi’s. Most are perennials, which live for many years, becoming large stable plants in the garden, requiring less care with increased benefits. Most of the herbs are sold via the volunteer-run Sonoma County Herb Exchange. This is located in the town of Sebastopol and designed to connect growers with herbal practitioners. I only harvest and deliver as much as there are orders for my product. Anyone is welcome to place orders for herb purchasing.
At Strong Arm Farm we grow:
Skullcap (Scutellaria laterfolia) This herb is currently very popular. Apparently it is known to address stress and anxiety within the body. Pre-orders are common for this plant before it even emerges from winter dormancy. Herbalists use this herb in its fresh-cut form for various blends.
Bea balm (Monarda didyma) This plant is grown purely for the whorls of flowers, favored among bees and hummingbirds. These whirls are layers of pink-ish purple flower clusters, that surround the stem. A great addition to bouquets, while also having the unique flavor of Bergamot. Earl Grey tea utilizes true bergamot – which is a citrus. Monarda is the leafy-herb version, that is sometimes cheaply substituted for the un-common lemon variety. See for yourself if you can detect the flavor similarity.
Dotted mint (Monarda punctata) This is another flowering plant grown initially for it’s whorled flowers. A fantastic addition to bouquets, the flowers are truly polk-a-dotted, and with shades of pink, yellow and purple. An incredible sight to view up close. Not only having impressionable flowers, but this Monarda has edible leaves that really leave you saying “Wow, that’s strong!” All parts of this plant have an intense thyme/oregano flavor. Easily substituted in cooking and in herbal products. “One of the best sources of thymol, an immune stimulant, germicide and bactericide. Historically used for upset stomachs, colds, diarrhea, neuralgia and kidney disease,” according to the Seeds of Change website.
Licorice Mint (Agastache rugosa) We just have a few of these plants. What a totally fun and unique flavor. Very sweet with solid representation of both flavors. These bushes commonly get nibbled when passed by. An ideal mouth freshener and digestive aid, best by itself as a tea, fresh or dried. Oddly not a big seller.
Tulsi also known as Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) Oh what a joy this brings to Ayuvedic healers, and to others that know it’s healing powers. Tulsi is a sacred herb of the Hindu religion. A sweet and floral basil, not particularly reminiscent of the Italian pesto-type basil we know so well. It’s a short plant that readily bursts into flower, requiring frequent cuts to keep active leaf growth.
Potential other medicinals that may be grown in the future by Strong Arm Farm:
Is there another herb you’d like us to grow for you? Just let us know, we’ll let you know if it can grow in this region
Seed collection completes the lifecycle of many plants at this small farm. Locally grown seed usually out-performs catalog bought seeds, due to the natural, regional adapting that occurs during each lifecycle. We have confidence that these seeds will do well in Central and Northern California soils and climates. Flowers are primarily selected, as they are relatively easy to collect and process. Seed cleaning and winnowing is an effortful process involving screens, hairdryers, and sieves of many mesh widths. Potentially millions of seeds are kept in glass jars until we measure-out proportions into small envelopes for sale. We currently sell these locally grown, adapted varieties for $2. per packet at farmer’s markets.
Originally, we sourced many of the seeds we now grow and sell from the 100% Organic choices at Seeds of Change. This New Mexico based seed company is our favored seed source.
Value added preserves are a unique offering at the farmer’s markets. Each year we experiment with new recipes and ingredients. Only small batches are made with the vegetables and fruits we grow as the main ingredients. Old fashioned glass jars are chosen, since this is a revival of old fashioned techniques that are still considered the best technology we have to preserve tastes naturally. All processing occurs in a certified kitchen. Return jars are welcomed, this way we can reuse, recycle, and re-issue after proper sanitation of course.